The Vikings are Rose Villa’s Dragon Boat paddling team. It was started in 2007 by Rose Villa’s CEO, Vassar Byrd. Vassar coached the team until 2015, when she passed the coaching baton to René Swar, Rose Villa’s newly hired Wellness Director. For an entertaining look into the Vikings history and to hear comments from resident paddlers, watch the (RV Today Show Episode 16) on rvillagers.org.
The Vikings in 2019
The Vikings Dragon Boat team is comprised of 20 paddlers, a tiller, a flag catcher and a caller, who is usually the coach. The Vikings are a combination of staff (and sometimes their spouses), residents (and sometimes their spouses), and family and friends. The annual season involves 10 weeks of practice, 3 times a week on the Willamette River by the Hawthorne Bridge. It ceremoniously culminates with racing in the historic Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races the first weekend in June. Rose Villa provides bus transportation to and from these races, so that spectator residents can share in the excitement of these races.
On the Water
You don’t need to be an experienced paddler to join the Vikings. Many on the team have been first time paddlers. Here’s a Vikings’ invitation: Anyone interested in a team with great spirit, camaraderie and a super upper body workout, should contact René Swar, Wellness Director.
Team Spirit!
